When I Learned I Was Having a Daughter
Looking back to December of 2013, I recall sitting in the doctor’s office with my wife while the doctor performed an ultrasound. I will never forget those words: “It’s a girl.”
My heart sank. For the previous 2.5 years, my wife and I had been praying for a little boy so I could have a buddy who would love to hunt and hang out with me. At that moment, I thought all those dreams had gone out the window, but God had different plans.
Her First Hunt at Just 18 Months Old
In May of 2014, my daughter Penelope was born healthy and beautiful, and my wife had a very successful delivery.
The car ride home was slow, and the days and weeks of sleepless nights couldn’t end soon enough. Penelope was, and is, deeply loved by me. I still regret ever feeling sad when I found out we were having a girl.
When she was a year and a half old, I decided I would take her hunting to see if she liked it.
Off we went to the deer lease for her first ever hunt. She was dressed in camouflage, her hair in tiny pigtails. I had a diaper bag in hand, and my wife was with us. We climbed into the stand early in the morning, and Penelope climbed into my lap and decided it was as good a place as any to take a nap.
I looked over at my wife and said that if anything walked out, she would have to shoot it, because I was just going to let Penelope sleep.
My wife ended up harvesting a deer. Penelope slept through the shot. When she finally woke up, we walked over and found the deer, and Penelope said, “That’s my deer.”
From that day forward, she was hooked. We would sit and watch TV about deer hunting and I would show her where the crosshairs needed to be placed. And almost every time I went into the woods, that little girl was right there with me.
Her First Deer and First Rifle
Between then and the time she turned 8, she would come with me and simply watch. I harvested several deer with her sitting in the stand.
When she turned 8, I decided it was time for her to start shooting. I had a hand-me-down rifle from my grandfather, passed down to my dad, then to me, chambered in .243.
The only problem was she was so small statured and the length of pull was just too long.
I ended up building her a .350 Legend in an AR platform that she was able to take her first deer, a 6-point buck.
She told me after she shot her 3rd deer with that rifle: she would like another rifle that kicked less. Thanks to a great friend of mine, I let her use his 6mm ARC and she fell in love with it. I built one for her soon after and even customized it with hot pink accessories.
Building Confidence Through Shooting Sports
When she turned 9, I decided it was time to have her start shooting a pistol. So I did what any good dad would do and I bought her a Glock 44 chambered in .22 LR, and of course customized it with hot pink accessories to match her rifle.
Since then, we go to the range at least twice a month and shoot together on Sundays after church.
Introducing Her to Thermal Hunting
On her birthday in May a couple of years back, I introduced her to the world of thermal hunting. After I had been involved in it for a while, I offered the experience to her and she said she would love to try it.
We loaded up the truck and headed for the woods. I remember quietly walking up through the woods and seeing that lone boar next to the feeder.
I got her set up on the tripod. She took aim, and and down he went. Perfect shot right through the ear.
On the truck ride home, she looked at me and asked if she could have her own thermal scope.
Why the DNT HYDRA HS335 Became Her Go-To Optic
I ended up getting her a DNT HYDRA HS335 and that is her optic.
The day deer season ends, her glass optic comes off and the thermal goes on. What I love about this optic is it is super user-friendly and she can operate it.
All I do is ask her if she is recording. She can navigate the menu, zoom, as well as change her color palettes all in total darkness.
Making Memories Before She Grows Up
I know that as she quickly approaches her teenage years, my little girl is slowly growing into a young woman. Ultimately, one day she will no longer be my designated hunting buddy. But until that day comes, she is still right by my side. And someday, I will be hunting by myself again.